Container controlled vacuumizing apparatus



Dec. 28, 1948. A. l.. KRoNQuEsT CONTAINER CONTROLLED VACUUMIZING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 vnr/vwl? t 4,1. lfm/Ignasi" 3 20 u 1 j A 1 01 m 1 n A 112m J .wimmir/MMW Dec. 28, 1948. A.'| KRoNQUi-:sT 2,457,690

CONTAINER CONTROLLED VACUUMIZING APPARATUS Dec. 28, 1948. A. L. KRoNQUEsT 2,457,690

CONTAINER CONTROLLED VACUUMIZING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q3 w, SS

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Dec. 28, 1948. A. L. KRONQUEST CONTAINER CONTROLLED VACUUMIZING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug, 14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fsa/41 rdf? A. L Kranguesl Dec. 28, 1948. A. L.. KRONVQUE CONTAINER CONTROLLED VACUUMIZING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 14, 1941 5 sheets-sheetv 5 irre/Valera i lsatented Dec. 28, 1948 CONTAINER CONTROLLED` VACUUMVIZING APPARATUS Alfred Kronquest, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York. .N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application August 14, 1941, Serial No.

406,899, now Patent No. 2,391,319, dated December 18, 1945.

Divided and this application June 20, 1945, Serial N0. 600,565

.The invention relates to certain new and useuating the chamber only during the vacuumizing interval, means also being provided for preventing placement of the valve in its chamber evacuation controlling position whenever no container is present to be vacuumized in said chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide in apparatus of the character stated a novel actuator constantly operable during operation of the machine in timed relation to the container presenting means, and means operable by movement of a container to the evacuating station for rendering said actuator effective to place the valve in the evacuation effecting position.

Another object of the invention is toprovide in apparatus of the character stated, means for discontinuing operation of the valve actuator whenever a jam occurs in the apparatus.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the i'nvention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the

appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: l

Figure 1 is a central vertical cross sectional view illustrating a machine embodying the invention, the container lifting and lowering pad being illustrated in its normal, lowered position.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken through the machine at a plane just beneath the bottom of the vacuumizing and. sealing head.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross section, illustrating the container lifting and lowering pad elevated to present a container in position for being vacuumized, the container gripping and vacuumizing chamber sealing segments being shown in gripping engagement with the upper portion of a container.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, somewhat l diagrammatic horizontal section illustrating the mounting of the valve action controlling coupler, the coupler being illustrated in its normal unconpled position just prior to coupling thereof by engagement of the setting devices by a container 15 Claiml. (Cl. 99-272) 2 about to be fed onto the lifting and lowering pad.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary face view illustrating the mounting of the vacuum controlling valve, the bearing equipment for the lower end of the bifurcated coupler carrying rock shaft being shown in section.

Figure 6 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 on Figure 5.

The present invention is directed to valve controlled means for evacuating a vacuumizing chamber only during the intended vacuumizing interval and for preventing effective operation of the valve whenever no container is present to be vacuumized, and while it is applicable to more general uses it is particularly adapted for use in the machine kstructure generally covered in the copending application for U. S. Letters Patent Serial Number 406,899, filed by Alfred L. Kronquest on August 14, 1941, now Patent No. 2,391,319.

The above mentioned machine includes a frame structure generally designated 5 wherein an uprightly disposed shaft 6 is rotatably supported in a lower bearing 1. an intermediate bearing 8 and in upper antifriction bearings 9.

The shaft is provided with a driver collar I0 which is splined on the upper end of the shaft 6 so as to be connected in driving relation thereto and yet vertically slidable thereon. The collar is equipped with equidistantly spaced rollers Il, the peripheries of which extend below the bottom face of the collar and normally engage in radial grooves I2 formed in the upper surface of a driver disk I3 so that said disk will normally be caused to rotate with the shaft 6 and the collar III. The disk I3 is carried at the upper end of a sleeve Il which freely surrounds the main shaft 6 and is supported on the previously mentioned antifriction bearings 9. A driverworm wheel I5 is secured to the disk I3 and may have rotation imparted thereto in any approved manner, preferably by the use of transmitting connections illustrated in the copending application for U. S. Letters Patent Serial Number 406,899, filed by Alfred L. Kronquest on August 14, 1941, which issued as Patent No. 2,391,319.

It will be apparent by reference to Figure 1 that the driver collar III is normally held in drive coupled contact with the driver disk I3 by the spring means I6, and thus the rotation imparted to the driver worm gear I5 will be transmitted to the main shaft 6. It will be apparent also that should a jam occur in the machine tending to resist rotation of the shaft 6 abnormally, the rollers II on the driver collar I0 would ride out of the receiving recesses I2 and cause the collar to move upwardly on the shaft a6 so as to permit the disk I9 and the gear I5 to',"contlnue rotating relative to the jammed shaft A6 and the driver coupling collar I0. k

It will be apparent byreference to Figure 2 that the containers I1 to be treated and closed in the machine are fed into the machine on block chains I8 under timing control of the timing screw I9. After being suitably spaced by 4the timing screw the containers-`A` are picked up by the equidistantly spaced lugs on the feed chain and carried into the guideway` 2I through which they are fed by the equidistaxitly spaced pins 22 projecting upwardly from the feed chain 23. The chain 23 feeds the containers onto the slotted lifting and lowering pad 24 disposed at the station at which the containers are vacuumized and gassed and closed. The slotting of the pad permits the pad to be lifted and lowered to bring the containers into cooperative relation with the treating and closing device and to again lower them into position for being conveyed by the chain 23. After each treated and closed can is lowered by the pad, it is fed by the pin chain 23 into the feedway 25 from which it is discharged by the equidis'tantly spaced lugs on the feed chain 26.

The pad 24 is carried at the upper end of the side plunger 21 which is equipped with a roller 29 engaging the actuater groove 29 in a lifting and lowering cam 30 which is rotatable with the shaft 6. See Figures l, 2 and 3.

Directly over the lifting and lowering pad 24 is mounted the vacuumizing and closing head generally designated 3|, and it is to be understood that the seaming mechanism generally designated 32 which is operable within the head in the limited volume vacuumizing and closing chamber 33 therein may be of any approved type, and it is therefore deemed unnecessary todescribe the structure and operation of this seaming mechanism herein. An example of an acceptable form of seaming lmechanism is`I disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent, 2,025,061 issued to Alfred L. Kronquest on December 24, 1935.

The vacuumizing and closing head 3| is provided with a bottom plate 34 having a central opening 35 through which the upper part of a container is lifted into the treating and closing chamber 33, and said opening is surrounded by container gripping, chamber sealing means generally designated 36 and which is constructed and operated in the manner disclosed in detail in the copending application for U. S. Letters Patent first-mentioned hereinabove.

The chamber 33 communicates through a wall port 31 which is sealed against atmospheric pressure, as at 38, with a vacuum chamber 39 formed within a portion of the seaming head supporting casing 40 and sealed off at the inside of the sleeve 4I. This casing portion 40 is also provided with a vacuum chamber 42 which is connected in any approved manner with a vacuum source (not shown). The vacuum chambers 39 and 42 are closed at one side by a valve slide plate 43 which is equipped with two ports 44 and 45, the former leading from the chamber 42 and the latter leading into the chamber 39. A D-valve 46 is slidable against the plate 43, the recess in said valve constantly communicating with the vacuum chamber 42 and serving to connect that chamber with the chamber 39 through the ports 44 and 45 whenever the valve is moved to its lowered position shown in Figure 3. Whenever the valve is thus lcwered, the chamber 39 will be evacuated through the ports 45 and 44 and the vacuum chamber 42. See Figures 1, 3 and 5. I', l

The valve 46 is vertically-slidably supported at the lower end of an actuator 41 which is vertically slidable in a slide bearing 48, and said valve is normally urged to the upper limit of its travel by spring equipments 49 so as to be normally held in its upper position in which the recess in the valve communicates only with the upper port 44 and the vacuum chamber 42. At its upper end the actuator 41 is equippedgwith a roller 50 which engages in the valve actuating cam groove 5I in the cam 52 which is rotatable with the shaft 6. The slide-guided upper portion of the actuator is rectangular ln horizontal cross section but the lower portion thereof which extends beneath the slide bearing 48 when the actuator is in its uppermost position is round in horizontal cross section, thereby providing an abutment or thrust shoulder 54 at the lower extremity of said rectangular actuator portion. See Figures 3, 4 and 5.

Whenever the valve 46 is in its uppermost position its upper extremity is spaced below the actuator shoulder 54 a distance sulcient to receive between it and said shoulder a bifurcated coupler 55 formed on the end of an arm 56 secured to a rock shaft 51. The rock shaft is rockably mounted at its upper end in a bracket 58 which is secured, as at 59, to the valve slide 46 so as to be movable therewith, said valve and slide being slidably guided, as at 60, on the casing 40. The shaft 51 is also rockably mounted at its lower end in a bearing6l which is secured to the framing, said lower end being splined in a sleeve 62 which is rockable in said bearing 6I. The sleeve carries a crank 63 which is equipped with a spring pressed detent 64 engageable in recesses 65 in the bearing bracket 6I, said detent and recess equipment serving to hold the crank in one or the other of the two positions between which it is oscillated.

The crank 63 is link-connected, as at 66, with the container way flanking wall 61 which is pivotally mounted, as at 68, in position for normally intercepting and being deflected by the containers as they are individually moved to the pad 24. See Figures 2 and 4. The link 66 is provided with spaced abutments 69 between which an end of the resetting arm 10 engages. The arm 10 is plvotally supported, as at 1I, on `the base of the frame and includes an extended portion equipped with a roller 12 which is disposed in the path of movement of the valve equipment resetting cam 13 rotatable with the main shaft 6 which has been referred to hereinbefore.

It will be obvious that downward movement imparted to the valve actuator will be transmitted to the valve only when the coupler member 55 straddles the rounded lower portion of the actuator and vis in abutting relation with the shoulder 54 and the upper extremity of the Valve 46. Whenever this coupler is displaced from this position, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the actuator moves idly without imparting any movement to the valve 46, and ths coupler member 55 will always be displaced from its effective or movement transmitting position when no container is present on the feedways and in position for engaging and displacing the flanking wall 61. Moreover, each time the wall 61 has been deected by movement of a container, thereby to couple the valveand bring about movement thereof and a temporary communication between the vacuum normal positions previously referred to. See

Figures 3, 4 and 5.

Operation /A 'I'he containers are fed/into the machine and onto the liftinsundlowering pad 24 in the' manvynergprevioisy described, and as each container approaches the pad 24 it engages and displaces the valve actuating mechanism control setting wall 81 and shifts the coupler member 56 into its effective position so that whenthe actuator member 41 is moved downwardlyby the cam groove I, the D-valve. will be moved to its lowered position to bring about communication between the vacuum source chamber 42 and the vacuumizing chamber Il which communicates with the vacuumizing and seaming chamber 33.

Just before this communication of the vacuumizing chamber 33 with the vacuum source is completed, the pad 24 is lifted by the cam groove 23 to present the upper extremity of the container and a cover loosely resting thereon in the vacuumizing chamber 33. After this is accomplished, and while the vcontainer supporting pad is being held in its elevated position. the sealing means 36 is actuated to grip the upper portion of the container externally and seal the vacuumizing chamber.

Because of the proper conditioning of the control devices illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the valve 46 will be positioned in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 and the chamber 33 and the container therein will be properly vacuumized.

After the vacuumizing 4oi. the container has been completed, the pad is lifted slightly-in the manner disclosed in the parent application firstmentioned herein to cause the container to engage with the seeming devices and be closed thereby in the well known manner. Following the sealing of the containers, the sealing means 36 is released and the container supporting pad 24'fis lowered to permit the oncoming chain pin 22 to pick up the vacuumized and closed container and deliver it to the feedway chain 26. I

While the present disclosure is directed particularly to valve controlled means 'foi evacuating the chamber 33. it is intended that the invention should be considered as broadly comprehending no can, no valve actuation in valve controlled means for displacing air from the filled containers in said chamber whether it be by the creation of a vacuum in said chamber or by introduction of gas therein in a manner for displacing air from the containers.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to,be

2. In a machine or the @ra-eter casing formingmaunlledfcontainer acuumizing chamber, means for presenting filled containers to said chamber to be vacuumizedtherein, means for delivering vacuumized containrsfrom said chamber, and means for 'controlling evacuation `of the chamber and including a valve movable into and out of position for bringing about evacuation of said chamber, valve actuating means including a displaceable coupler, means operable by movement of a can toward the chamber for effectively placing the coupler so as to bring about an evacuation of the particular can in said chamber, and means for displacing the coupler following the evacuation of said can.

. 3. In a machine of the character described, a casing forming a illled container vacuumizing chamber, means for presenting filled containers to said chamber to be vacuumized therein, means for delivering vacuumized containers from said chamber, means controlled by a shiftable valve for effecting evacuation of the chamber only when a lled container is presented therein for being vacuumized. and means for preventing placement of the `valve in its evacuation effecting position whenever no container is present for placement in said chamber, said last named means including a valve actuator constantly operable during operationof the machine in timed relation to said container presenting means, a control member shiftable by container contact each time a filled container is moved into cooperative relation t6 said chamber, and a coupler interponent normally out of contact between the valve and the actuator and placed into such contact only when said control member is container-shifted whereby movement of the actuator will be imparted to the valve to shift the same to its effective chamber evacuating position Ionly when a filled container 40 is presented for being vacuumized in said chamclearly understood that various changes in the i details of construction and arrangement of pa'rts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in tlie appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, a casing forming a filled container vacuumizing chamber, and means for controlling evacuation of the chamber and including a valve movable into and out of position for bringing about evacuation of said chamber, valve actuating means, means for disabling said actuating means following each evacuation of the chamber, and means operated by movement of a can toward said chamber for restoring said actuating means to its valve actuating condition.

ber.

4. In a machine of the character described, a casing open at its bottom and forming a filled container vacuumizing chamber therein, a con` tainer supporting pad vertically reciprocable for lifting nlled containers into and lowering vacuumized containers from said chamber. means for feeding filled containers onto and vacuumized containers off from said pad. means for sealing the open bottom of said chamber about a filled container therein, means controlled by a shiftable valve. for effecting evacuation of said chamber, and means controlled by movement of a filled container to said pad for shifting said valve to its evacuation eilecting position thereby providing for evacuation of said chamber only when a container is presented to the chamber for being vacuumized.

5. In a machine of the character described, a casing open at its bottom and forming a filled container vacuumizing chambergtherein, a container supporting pad vertically reclprocable foi lifting filled containers into and lowering vacuumized containers from said chamber, means for feeding filled containers onto and vacuumized containers of! from said pad, means for sealing,

the open bottomof said chamber about a filled container therein, means controlled by a shifta'ble valve for effecting evacuation of said chamber, and means controlled by movement of a filled container to said pad for shifting said valve to its evacuation effecting position thereby providing for evacuation of said chamber only when a container is presented to the chamber4 for being vacuumized, said last named means comprising a valve actuator reciprocating in timed relation to said feeding means out of effective contact with said valve, a coupler interponent normally out of effective movement'l transmitting contact between the actuator and the valve, and means engaged by a container moving to said pad for shifting said interponent into its effective movement transmitting position for imparting the movement of the actuator to the valve and moving the latter to its chamber evacuating position.

6. In a machine of the character described. a casing forming a filled container vacuumizing chamber, means for presenting filled containers to said chamber to be vaouumized therein, means for delivering vacuumized containers from said chamber, means controlled by a shiftable valve for effecting evacuation of the chamber only when a filled container is presented therein for being vacuumized, and means for preventing placement of the valve in its evacuation effecting position whenever no container is present for placement in said chamber, said last named means including a valve actuator constantly operable during operation of the machine in timed relation to said container presenting means, a control member shiftable by container contact each time a filled container is moved into cooperative relation to said chamber, a coupler interponent normally ou.I of contact between the valve and the actuator and placed into such contact only when said control member is container-shifted whereby movement of the actuator will be imparted to the valve to shift the same to its effective chamber evacuating position only when a filled container is presented for being vacuumized in said chamber, and means for positively displacing said coupler interponent after the vacuumizing of each container.

7. In a machine of the character described, a casing open at its bottom and forming a filled container vacuumizing chamber therein, a container supporting pad vertically reciprocable for lifting filled containers into and lowering vacuumized containers from said chamber, means for feeding lled containers onto and vacuumized containers off from said pad, means for sealing the open bottom of said chamber about a filled container therein, means controlled by a shiftable valve for effecting evacuation of said chamber, and means controlled by movement of a filled container to said pad for shifting said valve to its evacuation effecting position thereby providing for evacuation of said chamber only when a con` tainer is presented to the chamber for being vacuumized, said last named means comprising a valve actuator reciprocating in timed relation to said feeding means out of effective contact with said valve, a coupler interponent normally out or effective movement transmitting contact between the actuator and the valve, means engaged by a. container moving to said pad for shifting said interponent into its effective movement transmitting position for imparting the movement of the actuator to the valve and moving the latter to ite chamber evacuating position, and means including a rotary cam for positively displacing said coupler interponent from its effective movement transmitting contact after the vacuumizing of each container.

8. In combination in a machine of the character described, a support on which lled containers are to have air displaced therefrom, means for feeding filled containers onto said support, means controlled by a shiftable valve for effecting the displacement of air from containers on said support, valve shifting means, means operable by 4 movement of a can to said support for conditioning the shifting means to shift said. valve thereby preventing placement of the valve in its air displacement eifecting position whenever no container is presented for treatment n said support. and means for rendering said shifting means again ineffective following the completion of each air displacement function.

9. Inv combination in a machine of the character described, a support on which lled containers are to have air displaced therefrom, means for feeding filled containers onto said support, means controlled by a shiftable valve for effecting the displacement of air from containers on said support, and means for preventing placement of the valve in its air displacement effecting position whenever no container is presented for treatment. on said support, said last named means including a valve actuator constantly operable during operation of the machine in timed relation to said container feeding means, a control member shiftable by container contact each time a filled container is moved to said support, and a coupler interponent normally out of contact between the valve and the actuator and placed into such contact only when said control member is container shifted whereby movement of the actuator will be imparted to the valve to shift the same to its effective air displacement effecting position only when a filled container is present on said support,

10. In combination in a. machine of the character described, a support on which filled containers are to have air displaced therefrom, means for feeding filled containers onto said support, means controlled by a shiftable valve for effecting the displacement of air from containers on said support, and means for preventing placement of the valve in its air displacement effecting position whenever no container is presented for treatment on said support, said last named means including a valve actuator constantly operable during operation of the machine in timed relation to said container feeding means, a control member shiftable by container contact each ,time a filled container is moved *to said support, a coupler interponent normally out of contact between the valve and the actuator and placed into such contact only when said control member is containershifted whereby movement of the actuator will be imparted to the valve to shift the same to its effective air displacement effecting position only when a filled container is present on said support, and means for positively displacing said coupler interponent after the air displacing operation on each container.

11. In combination in a machine of the character described, a support on which filled containers are to have air displaced therefrom, means for feeding filled containers onto said support, means controlled by a shiftable valve for effecting the displacement of air from containers on said support, and means for preventing placement of the valve in its air displacement effecting position whenever no container is presented for treatment onsaid support, said last named means including a valve actuator constantly operable during operation of the machine in timed relation to said container feeding means, a control member shiftable by container contact each time a filled container is moved to said support, a coupler interponent normally out of contact between the valve and the actuator and placed into such contact only when said control member is container-shifted whereby movement of the actuator will be imparted to the valve to shift the same to its effective air displacement effecting position only when a nlled container is present on said support, and means for discontinuing operation of said valve actuator whenever a jam occurs in the machine.

12. In combination in a machine ot the character described, a support on which nlled containers are to have air displaced therefrom, means for feeding lled containers onto said support, means controlled by a shiftable valve for effecting the displacement of air from containers on said support, means for preventing placement of the valve in its air displacement effecting position whenever no container is presented for treatment on said support, and means for preventing shifting of the valve upon the happening or a jam in the machine.

13. 1n a machine of the character described, a stationary structure having a ililed container vacuumizing chamber therein, means for presenting lled containers to said chamber to be vacuumized therein, means for delivering vacuumized containers from said chamber, a chamber evacuating duct leading into said chamber from a vacuum port, a vacuum duct having a port disposed adjacent the vacuum port, a D-valve slidable over said ports for alternately bringing about communication between said ports for evacuating the chamber or for opening the chamber to atmosphere, and means controlled by movement of a nlled container toward said chamber for placing the valve in position for bringing about communication between said ports.

1d. in a machine oi the character described, a stationary structure having a filled container vacuumizing chamber therein, means for presenting filled containers to said chamber to be vacuumized therein, means for delivering vacuumiced containers from said chamber, a chamber evacuating duct leading into said chamber from a vacuum port, a vacuum duct having a port disposed adjacent the vacuum port, a D-valve slidable over said ports for alternately bringing about counication between said ports for evacuating the chber or for opening the chamber to atmosphere, and means controlled by movement oi a dlied container toward said chamber for placing the valve in position for bringing about communication between said ports. said last named cans including a valve actuator constantly operable during operation of the machine in timed relation to said container presenting means, a control member shiftable by container contact each time a filled container is being presented to the chamber, and a coupler interponent normally out of contact between the valve and the actuator and placed into such contact only when said control member is shifted by container contact.

15. In a machine of the character described, a stationary structure having a filled container vacuumizing chamber therein, means for presenting illled containers to said chamber to be vacuumized therein, means for delivering vacuumized containers from said chamber, a chamber evacuating duct leading into said chamber from a vacuum port, a vacuum duct having a port disposed adjacent the vacuum port, a D-valve slidable over said ports for alternately bringing about communication between said ports for evacuat'lng the chamber or for opening the chamber to atmosphere, and means controlled by movement of a nlled container toward said chamber for placing the valve in position for bringing about communication between said ports, said last named means including a valve actuator constantly operable during operation of the machine in timed relation to said container presenting means, a control member shiitable by container contact each time a iilied container is being presented to the chamber, and a coupler interponent normally out oi contact between the valve and the actuator and placed into such contact only when said control member is shifted by container contact, and spring means normally holding the valve in position for og the chamber to atmosphere.

ED L. KRONQUEST.

ama prions crr The following references are of record in the nie of this patenti i "L ED STATES PATENTS Number Kronduest Dec. 18, 1945 

